Improved animal-trap



@ganci G "tra @timed nder- @ffaa www EDWARD REC'HARD, F WASHINGTON, MISSOURI..

Letters Bama No. 83,094, camz caoba 13, lacs.V

I1VIPRO'VED ANIMAL-TRAP.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD REIGHARD, of Washington, in the county of Franklin, and State of Missouri, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Traps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and clear description therof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of this invention is in the formation of an animal-trap out of spherical lobes, which open to permit entry of the animalto the bait, and thereupon close, when the bait isattacked, and encircle 4the animal, to confine the same, without injury to the animal; and said nature is in certain detail devices, hereinafter more fully described.

Tol enable those skilled herein to make and use my said trap, I will describe the same 'in its construction and operation, referring to the accompanying Figure 1 as a transverse sectional elevation, and to Figure 2 as a longitudinal sectional elevation, showing the trap open.

I construct my said trap of a-base-piece, A, usually circular in form, of wood, or cast or wrought-iron plate. On said base I secure the spherical lobe B, which forms the rear enclosing part of the trap. -Said lobe .B may have air-opening,l and be otherwise latticed or punctiu'ed for airl or ventilation-holes. I arrange the hinged lobe C, also of spherical form, so that it may fold within or turn within the xed lobe B when the trap is open, as indicated in fig. 2.

The hinged lobe C is attached to the journal D, usually placed beneath the base-plate A, and lixed thereto. A strong spring, E, either of a spiral form, wrapped around the journal D, or straight, and secured to said journal, will be so connected with the lobe C, that its force will be exerted in urging the lobe C to its shut-down position, as indicated by the dotted lines in g. 1.

0n said lobe C, I arrange the plate-spring c. This has a tappet-cam, c, with a kerf or indentation, c2, near its upper edge. Near the base of the fixed lobe B, (in the verticallliue of traverse of the cam cl) I arrange the spring b, having a curved end arranged to engage and retain the cam c, by passing into the kerf c2, when the lobe C is moved back with the lobe B, as indicated in full lines in fig. 1.

The trip or motive-device F is arranged to operate the release of the cam cl from the spring b in the manner following: v

To the base-plate A is secured the trip-lever f, which moves freely on its journal j". The forward end of the trip-lever f is arranged to receive the bait, which will be vegetable or animal food, to suit the taste of the animal to be caught.

The rear end of said lever, f, (when the lobe O,

is opened,) touches the projecting edge of the plate- I spring c, and when, by action of the animal,` the bait' is moved, and thus the lever f is tipped or tripped, the spring c is forced downward and forward, thus releasing the cam c from its detent-spring b, and then,

against the pressiue of the 'spring E, I arrange the spring-catch G, the detent g whereof, passing under the base-plate, A, prevents the lifting of the lobe O. A button onthe spring-catch G enables the operator to for back the spring and its detent g, so that the lobe C may be raised, tosecure the captured animal, and reset 'the trap.

The action ofthe said parts is in the manner following: rIhe operator, by pressing back the button on the catch G, and raising then the lobe C, turns the said lobe C back within the lobe B, against the pressure of the spring E. When the lobe O is moved back far enough, the spring'b retains said lobe by engaging the cam c. If, then, the lobe C is held, the leverv j may be baited, and the trap is set The action of the animal is to withdraw the bait from said lever f, and thus to release the spring b from the cam c, whereupon the springE forces forward the lobe C, and the animal is' caught, the catch G acting to prevent the lobe C from being lifted.

.It will be seen that the said parts are simple in construction, aud easily reiitted, when worn by long use, and owing to unobstructed entrance to the cavity under the opened lobe C, as shown in fig. l in full lines, the animal is in nowise deterred from entering, and as the head of the animal is toward the bait, the lobe Qin shutting down, will pass quickly behind the animal, before the same can turn to escape; the action of my said trap being herein expeditious, and certain of desired effect.

Having thus fully described my invention,

1. TheV trap, formed ofthe base, A, the fixed lobe' B, journal D, spring E, and movable lobe O, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the trip-lever j, the spring c, its cam c and detent-spring b, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The spring-catch G, in combination with the lobe C, when arranged to secure said lobe to the baseplate, A, by the detent g, substantially as set forth.

, EDWARD REIGHARD.

Witnesses: y

GEO. P. IIERTHEL, Jr., ROBERT BURNS. 

